Vintage Mbira Thumb Piano Shona People Zimbabwe

A VINTAGE MBIRA OR THUMB PIANO. MADE FROM A HOLLOWED OUT PIECE OF WOOD WITH 10 METAL KEYS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS ARRANGED ON TOP. THE HOLLOW BODY ACTS AS A RESONATOR TO DEEPEN THE SOUND.
 
The thumb piano is one the popular music instruments originating from Africa. It is a type of idiophone, which includes instruments that vibrate without the need for strings or membranes. It is very common in Sub-Saharan Africa and is popularly used even in the Western world.
 
Famous musicians such as Garikayi Tirikoti, Ephat Mujuru, and Stella Chiweshe use the thumb piano for their music, as well as pop and jazz singers like Earth, Wind and Fire, Imogen Heap, Bjork, and Jens Lekman. 
 
Despite its name, sometimes fingers as well as thumbs are used to play the thumb piano. Sometimes bottle tops or shells are attached to the Mbiras to create a buzzing sound when the instrument is played.
 
The mbira is an ancient instrument played in many sub-Saharan countries. It is known by many different names: Likembe, Mbila, Thumb Piano, Mbira Huru, Mbira Njari, Mbira Nyunga Nyunga, Sansa, Karimbao,and Kalimba. 
 
THE MBIRA IS KNOWN TO THE SHONA PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE AS THE MBIRA DZAVADZIMU ("VOICE OF THE ANCESTORS") AND IS REGARDED AS THE NATIONAL INSTRUMENT OF ZIMBABWE.
 
SIZE: 14CM WIDE 23CM LONG 9CM DEEP
 
CONDITION: IN GOOD CONDITION.
 
NOTE I HAVE VARIOUS INTERSTING AFRICAN ARTIFACTS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. STRANGE WOODEN CARVED BOWLS AND GOURDS TO OLD AFRICAN POTTERY LAMPS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. ALSO AN AFRICAN LUBA DRC PIPE.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME OTHER INTERESTING ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK. NOTE ALL MY AUCTIONS END AT 22H30 SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO PUT IN AN AUTOMATIC BID (HIGHEST PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY) EARLY.
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